Art can be a source of motivation, focus and drive, pouring passion and fire into the artist, and awe and wonder into the spectators. Gary Hovey, an inspiring sculptor from the state of Ohio, is clear proof of that. Inheriting his father’s talents as a machinist and carpenter, Hovey saw beauty in ordinary household items found in every kitchen: spoons, forks, and other types of silverware. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1994, Hovey threw himself into his art.
With his movement restricted and limited work opportunities, his art form gave him a sense of purpose. It was in 2004 that Hovey completed his first silverware sculpture, a running dog. With the welding tools and expertise he needed now in his possession, he set to work on his gallery of sparkling sculptures. Even in 2010, when his disease progressed to a point that forced him to stop what little part-time work was open to him, Hovey pushed forward with his illustrious animals. Every detail of the creatures is carefully crafted and designed using different metal utensils, melded, and welded to create the details of each beast. These 20 pictures show the results of perseverance, hard work, and passion.
